The influence of smoking exposure and cessation on penile hemodynamics and corporal tissue in a rat model

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as consistent or recurrent inability to attain and/or maintain erection sufficient for satisfactory intercourse, is a medical condition that is expected to affect more than 320 million men worldwide by 2025 (1,2). While ED is a benign disorder, it nevertheless adversely affects the quality of life of the patients and their partners (3).

It has been previously demonstrated that tobacco use is a modifiable risk factor for ED (4). For example, in a cross-sectional study of Chinese men in Hong Kong, smoking of ≥20 cigarettes daily was associated with a 50% increase of having ED (5). Moreover, improvement in ED in smokers after cessation was observed in a prospective study (6). Specifically, after one year of smoking cessation, ≥25% of ex-smoker had improved erectile function but none of the current smokers. However, although such epidemiological studies have clearly shown that smoking cessation significantly enhances sexual health, the underlying mechanism remains unknown (7).

As such, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of tobacco cessation on penile hemodynamics and histology in a rat model of cigarette smoking (CS)-related ED. We assessed the functional, histological and molecular changes in rats that underwent a period of exposure followed by cessation of exposure for 4 and 8 weeks. Our goals were to elucidate that cessation of tobacco exposure was associated with improved penile hemodynamics and histology.

Methods

Experimental design

All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (Approval number: 2012121822, 1 August 2013). All surgeries were performed under Zoletil anesthesia to minimize suffering.

Forty 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased from BioLASCO Taiwan Co., Ltd (Taipei) and randomly divided into 4 groups. The negative control group (N group) consisted of 10 rats that were exposed to room air for 12 weeks, tested for erectile function, subjected to blood sample collection, and then sacrificed for histology. The experimental group consisted of the remaining 30 rats that were exposed to continuous CS for 2 hours per day, 5 days per week in 12 weeks (8,9). These rats were then randomly and equally divided into 3 groups that were treated as follows: (I) the S group was tested for erectile function, subjected to blood sample collection, and then sacrificed for histology; (II) the Q4W group was exposed to room air for 4 weeks, tested for erectile function, subjected to blood sample collection, and then sacrificed for histology; (III) the Q8W group was exposed to room air for 8 weeks, tested for erectile function, subjected to blood sample collection, and then sacrificed for histology.

Cigarette smoke exposure

The procedure was carried out as described previously (8,9). Briefly, rats to be exposed to CS were housed in 28×28×19 cm³ enclosed plastic cages that were connected to a CS-generating device (8,9). The CS was produced from ignited cigarettes that each contained 10 mg of tar and 0.8 mg of nicotine (Marlboro, Philip Morris, Richmond, Virginia, USA). The cigarettes were burned continuously to exhaustion at a rate of one cigarette per 6 minutes.

Erectile function evaluation

Penile hemodynamic assessment was performed as described previously (10). Briefly, each rat was anesthetized with 20 mg/kg of Zoletil 50, and their cavernous nerves and penile crus isolated via midline laparotomy. A 23-gauge butterfly needle connected to a pressure transducer and filled with heparinized saline (200 U/mL) was inserted into penile crus. A bipolar hook electrode was then used to stimulate the cavernous nerves. The stimulation parameters were 50 seconds continuous trains at 1.5 m Amp, 20 Hz and 0.2 ms pulse width (A-M Systems, Sequim, WA, USA). For further analysis, the maximum increase of ICP for 3 stimuli per side was utilized for each animal. Penile hemodynamics was reported as the intracavernosal pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) ratios to normalize for variations in systemic blood pressure.

Immunohistochemical staining

Penile tissues were processed for immunohistochemical staining as previously described (8-11). Briefly, tissue sections were stained with Masson’s trichrome staining, mouse anti-8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, 1:50; JaICA, Nikken Seil Co., Japan), mouse anti- neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS, 1:100; BD Transduction Laboratories, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis, IN, USA) using standard techniques.

Western blot analysis

Details of the Western blotting procedure was described previously (8,9). Briefly, urethral tissue was dissected from the penile sample. Tissue lysates containing 50 µg of protein was electrophoresed in 8% SDS-PAGE, transferred to PVDF membrane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), and then incubated with mouse anti-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS, 1:1,000; BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA) and mouse anti-β-actin antibody (1:10,000; Santa Cruz, Dallas, Texas). Detection of reactive antigens was performed with ECL kit (Amersham Life Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA). The resulting images were quantified by densitometry.

Image and statistical analysis

Image results were analyzed with Image-Pro software (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, MD, USA) and ACT-1 software (Nikon Instruments Inc., Melville, NY, USA). To evaluate 8-OHdG and nNOS, approximately one half of each corporal body was photographed at ×40 magnification and the results were expressed as the percentage of positive area vs. total area of the corpora cavernosa. For quantification of Masson’s trichrome staining, the specimens were assessed at ×40 magnification and data were expressed as the percentage of smooth muscle normalized to collagen content. For quantifying TUNEL staining, the bilateral corpora cavernosa were analyzed at ×100 magnification and the results were expressed as the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei in the corpora cavernosa.

Data were analyzed with Prism version 6 (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA) and expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) for all continuous variables. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey-Kramer test for post hoc comparisons. Statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.

Results

Erectile function and serum testosterone

Table 1 summarizes erectile function and serum testosterone levels. Mean ICP and ICP/MAP ratios were significantly lower in the S group compared to the N and Q8W groups (P=0.0260 and P=0.0189, respectively). While the Q4W group also had higher mean ICP and ICP/MAP ratios than the S group, the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.4549 and P=0.2536, respectively). Representative peak ICP graphs are shown in Figure 1.

Table 1 Erectile function studies and testosterone levels in the experimental animals
Full table

Figure 1 Measurement of erectile function. Representative graphs are shown for rats with exposure only to room air for 12 weeks (N), smoke exposure for a full 12 weeks followed by immediate erectile function testing (S), smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q4W) and smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 8 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q8W). The red curve and blue bar represent intracavernous pressure (ICP) values and the duration of cavernous nerve stimulation (50 seconds), respectively.

Serum testosterone was significantly lower in the S group than in the Q8W group (P=0.0371). Although there was no statistically significant difference between N and S groups (P=0.0884), there was a trend towards decreased testosterone level in CS-exposed rats.

Oxidative stress

As illustrated in Table 2, expression of 8-OHdG (one of the predominant forms of free radical-induced oxidative DNA damage products) in the S group was significantly higher than in the N and Q8W groups (P=0.0001). Significant difference in 8-OHdG expression was also noted between the N and Q4W groups (P=0.0018). No significant difference was observed between the S and Q4W groups. Representative images are shown in Figure 2.

Table 2 8-OHdG, nNOS, Masson’s trichrome and TUNEL stain
Full table

Figure 2 Oxidative stress in corpora cavernosa. Representative images from rats with exposure only to room air for 12 weeks (N), smoke exposure for a full 12 weeks followed by immediate erectile function testing (S), smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q4W) and smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 8 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q8W). Free radical-induced oxidative DNA damage products are stained brown with 8-OHdG antibody. Positive staining was more intense in the S group than in the N and Q8W groups. (Scale bars: left, 500 µm; right, 100 µm).

nNOS positivity

As shown in Table 2, intracorporal nNOS was significantly lower in the S group than in the N and Q8W groups (P=0.0155). There was no significant difference in nNOS-positive staining between the N and Q8W groups (P=0.8324). Representative images of nNOS staining are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in corpora cavernosa. Representative images from rats with exposure only to room air for 12 weeks (N), smoke exposure for a full 12 weeks followed by immediate erectile function testing (S), smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q4W) and smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 8 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q8W). nNOS-positive fibers are strained brown with nNOS antibody. Positive staining for nNOS was less intense in the S group than in the N and Q8W groups. (Scale bars: left, 500 µm; right, 100 µm).

eNOS Western blot

As presented in Figure 4, protein expression of eNOS was significantly lower in the S group relative to the N and Q8W groups (0.08±0.007 vs. 0.25±0.046 vs. 0.22±0.041, P=0.024); significant differences between the N and Q4W groups were noted for eNOS (0.25±0.046 vs. 0.13±0.016, P=0.0369). No significant difference in eNOS expression was observed between the N and Q8W groups (P=0.569).

Figure 4 Western blot for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Representative images from rats with exposure only to room air for 12 weeks (N), smoke exposure for a full 12 weeks followed by immediate erectile function testing (S), smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q4W) and smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 8 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q8W). Mean eNOS was significantly lower in the S group compared with N and Q8W groups; significant differences between the N and Q4W groups were also noted. (*, P<0.05; **, P<0.01).

Smooth muscle content

The smooth muscle to collagen ratio was significantly lower in the S group compared to the N and Q8W groups (P=0.0008). Significant difference was also noted between the N and Q4W groups (P=0.0061, Table 2). There was no significant difference between the N and Q8W groups (P=0.7636). Representative images are shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Smooth muscle content in corpora cavernosa. Representative images from rats with exposure only to room air for 12 weeks (N), smoke exposure for a full 12 weeks followed by immediate erectile function testing (S), smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q4W) and smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 8 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q8W). Smooth muscle and connective tissue are stained with red and blue, respectively, using the trichrome method. The smooth muscle content was less in the S and Q4W groups than in the N and Q8W groups. The scale bar represents 250 µm.

TUNEL immunohistochemistry

TUNEL-positive cells were significantly more numerous in the S group compared to the N and Q8W groups (P=0.0113, Table 2). There was no significant difference between the N and Q8W groups (P=0.6732). Representative images are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 Analysis of apoptosis-positive cells by TUNEL stain. Representative images from rats with exposure only to room air for 12 weeks (N), smoke exposure for a full 12 weeks followed by immediate erectile function testing (S), smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q4W) and smoke exposure for 12 weeks followed by 8 weeks of room air only exposure before erectile function testing (Q8W). Apoptotic cells and cell nuclei in the corpora cavernosa were visualized with TUNEL staining (green, arrows) and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining (blue), respectively. The S group had a greater number of apoptotic cells than the N and Q8W groups. The scale bar represents 100 µm.

Discussion

It has been shown that cigarette smoking is dose-dependently associated with ED, and smoking cessation can lead to recovery of erectile function (6,12). However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of ED or for the recovery of erectile function are largely unknown. Thus, we wished to fill this knowledge gap in the present study by establishing animal models that mimic human smoking and smoking cessation, followed by examining their penile tissues for possible changes in key cellular and molecular markers, such as oxidative stress and apoptotic index, nNOS and eNOS expressions, and cavernosal smooth muscle content.

There are more than 4,000 volatile chemicals other than nicotine present in cigarette smoke, many of which have not been evaluated in terms of effects on steroidogenesis (13). There have been conflicting reports of the effects of tobacco on serum testosterone levels (14-16). These conflicting results may be attributable to variability in laboratory methods, time of specimen collection, or other factors. Oyeyipo et al. demonstrated that nicotine administration significantly decreased (P<0.05) serum testosterone in rats in a dose-dependent fashion; nicotine cessation mitigated some of this effect (17). Our study supports these prior findings. Whether nicotine or another component of tobacco smoke was the driver of this effect remains unclear and a topic for further investigation.

It has been shown that smoking-related ED is associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species, and these free radicals cause ultrastructural damage to the corporal tissue and alter NOS activities in mice, rats, and humans (8,18,19). In our previous studies, CS-exposed animals had higher levels of systemic oxidative stress when compared to control animals (8). In the present study, we further confirmed that CS-exposed animals had higher levels of 8-OHdG expression in penile tissue and this was ameliorated by smoking cessation. We thus hypothesize that oxidative stress is a fundamental underlying mechanism for tobacco-induced impairment of penile hemodynamics.

Cigarette smoking is a leading global public health concern, especially because of its increasing prevalence among adolescents and young adults (20). Also noteworthy is that tobacco use is more prevalent in Asian compared to Western nations, and this can perhaps explain the higher prevalence of ED in Asian countries when compared to Western countries (5,21,22).

The health benefits of tobacco cessation in terms of prevention of cancer and cardiac disease are well known. However, the potential impact of tobacco use on erectile function is much less known. Given the importance of sexuality to most men, advice that tobacco cessation may help preserve erectile function may be a more powerful motivator for quitting than the more abstract and long-term risks of cancer and heart disease. Thus, findings from the present study may serve as a novel means of commanding more attention and creating stronger motivation especially for Chinese and other Asian populations to stop smoking.

There are several limitations in the present study. For example, the nature of CS exposure in our animal model does not faithfully reflect the typical human CS exposure of repeated short doses throughout a day. Another critical question is how the CS-induced systemic stress might affect the outcome. We hope to address these important questions in our future research.

To our best knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the effects of tobacco on erectile function and tissue structure in a rat model. Our findings suggest that smoking cessation is an important component of the therapeutic approach to ED, and healthcare providers should advise patients that stop smoking is not only beneficial for their heart and lung but also for their sexual capability.

Conclusions

We confirmed that chronic CS exposure increases penile oxidative stress and apoptosis, and decreases nNOS, eNOS and smooth muscle components in corporal tissue. We also uncovered that tobacco cessation is associated with partial recovery of penile hemodynamics. We thus hypothesize that smoking cessation may ameliorate ED via reduction in oxidative stress. While this in vivo model demonstrated the benefits of smoking cessation, further studies are required to verify the responsible molecular mechanisms.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Alan W. Shindel, MD, MAS and Ching-Shwun Lin, PhD for editorial assistance in manuscript preparation.

Funding: The work was supported by Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Taiwan (CMRP G6H0471).

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tau.2019.12.45). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Laboratory Animal Center at Laboratory Animal Center, Department of Medical Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi (Approval number: 2012121822).

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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